Saving Energy/Environment While Computing

Do not leave your computer running overnight and on weekends. Wait until you are ready to use your computer before turning it on.

After 16 minutes, the energy needed to run your computer outweighs the start-up energy. So, if your computer is going to be inactive for more than 16 minutes, consider turning it off.

A modest amount of turning on and turning off will not harm your computer or monitor. The life of a monitor is related to the amount of time it is in use, not the number of on and off cycles.

Try to plan your computer-related activities so you can do them all at once, keeping the computer off at other times.

Do not turn on the printer until you are ready to print. Printers consume energy even while they are idling.

Do not print emails unless it is necessary.

Most computer equipment now comes with power management features. Check to make sure they are enacted.

The best screen saver is no screen saver at all.

Turn off your monitor when you are not using it. (This option is second best only to turning off your computer all together.)

Use "paperless" methods of communication such as email and fax modems.

When typing documents that will be printed, especially drafts, use smaller font and decrease the spacing between lines. Keep your document to the fewest possible pages.

Review your document on the screen instead of printing a draft. If you must print a draft, use the blank back side of used paper.

Use a printer that can print double-sided documents. When making copies, use double-sided copying.

Always buy and use recycled-content paper. Look for papers with 50-100% post-consumer waste and non-chlorine bleached.

Recycle your print paper.

Only buy a monitor as large as you really need. Although a large monitor might seem more attractive, you should remember that a 17-inch monitor uses 40 percent more energy than a 14-inch monitor. The higher the resolution, the more energy it needs.

Ink jet printers use 80 to 90 percent less energy than laser printers.